Has covid brought people together or pushed them apart?
Has covid brought people together or pushed them apart?

Poll: Has covid brought people together or pushed them apart?

Total Members Polled: 47

Nationally increased social togetherness: 4
Nationally decreased social togetherness: 29
Nationally don’t know: 9
Locally increased social togetherness: 15
Locally decreased social togetherness: 13
Locally don’t know: 3
Author
Discussion

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

78 months

Friday 4th December 2020
quotequote all
Interesting yougov poll about changes in social togetherness by country.

https://yougov.co.uk/topics/international/articles...

Nationally



In your local community




I thought the uk’s would be higher tbh, I’ve definitely got to know my neighbours etc better during covid. (From a safe distance) and felt a greater sense of social cohesion generally.

Maybe some countries that are more into hugging etc, like the Italians feel more apart now? Maybe it depends on the restrictions and whether people have been following them.

What do you all think?

TheJimi

27,224 posts

267 months

Friday 4th December 2020
quotequote all
The idea of increased social cohesion while masks & social distancing is mandated, is a paradox.

On a very local level - ie neighbourhood level, yes, social cohesion has probably increased for many, but beyond that?





anonymous-user

Original Poster:

78 months

Friday 4th December 2020
quotequote all
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Sure, but Tonker, you’re a happy and optimistic guy, surely you’ve enjoyed a newfound connection with those in your community and experienced some kind of collective increased sense of humanity and your own consciousness during it all and become even more enlightened?

It’s not just about being locked down or not it’s about all the awesome things you’ve done since it all started.

Lotobear

8,689 posts

152 months

Friday 4th December 2020
quotequote all
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Pretty much this and I'm actually surpised at the survey results TBH

It seems to me that Britain is a bitterly divided country continuously looking for a cause to express that divide - we've had left v right, Brexit, haves and have not's, race, gender ID, and the whole gamut of 'causes' and now we have Covid (lockdown types v libertarians).

I blame the politicians for rolling with it, the media and social media in particular and, wait for it, the lack of genuine hardship these days which I think tended to galvanise the people in days gone by. It's all very depressing and part of me is glad in a sense that I'm more than 50% of the way through my life as I can't imagine how we reverse it but I do worry for my kids. Generally the UK is in a pretty horrid place right now.


anonymous-user

Original Poster:

78 months

Friday 4th December 2020
quotequote all
Lotobear said:
Pretty much this and I'm actually surpised at the survey results TBH

It seems to me that Britain is a bitterly divided country continuously looking for a cause to express that divide - we've had left v right, Brexit, haves and have not's, race, gender ID, and the whole gamut of 'causes' and now we have Covid (lockdown types v libertarians).

I blame the politicians for rolling with it, the media and social media in particular and, wait for it, the lack of genuine hardship these days which I think tended to galvanise the people in days gone by. It's all very depressing and part of me is glad in a sense that I'm more than 50% of the way through my life as I can't imagine how we reverse it but I do worry for my kids. Generally the UK is in a pretty horrid place right now.
I’ve found completely the opposite. Maybe it’s like that on Twitter or Facebook groups etc but when you’re out and about meeting real people, I think there’s much more social cohesion than before.

Many more people are getting into health and well-being and enjoying increased connections with their community.

I went swimming on the coast at the weekend and the sea was about 10c, there was more people there than I’ve ever seen before, all enjoying it and describing how they’ve got into open water swimming during lockdown as pools were closed.

I see similar everywhere where people are bonding more during this shared common experience.

Obviously social media doesn’t reflect this but that’s always loads more polarised than reality.




Jasandjules

72,024 posts

253 months

Friday 4th December 2020
quotequote all
Bitterly divided IMHO.


kayc

4,492 posts

245 months

Friday 4th December 2020
quotequote all
Jasandjules said:
Bitterly divided IMHO.
+1..Chinese probably happy too as they know the Western Govts overreaction has furthered their chances of being the most powerful country in the world in 10 years!!


Edited by kayc on Friday 4th December 15:21

Iamnotkloot

1,862 posts

171 months

Friday 4th December 2020
quotequote all
I don't want to be negative but I think it's hard to improve social cohesion when all the things I used to do socially have been cancelled and not replaced. That goes for the kids too. I think it's currently far less sociable (for obvious reasons) and can't wait for a vaccine so we can go back to healthy social lives.

JagLover

46,184 posts

259 months

Friday 4th December 2020
quotequote all
Iamnotkloot said:
I don't want to be negative but I think it's hard to improve social cohesion when all the things I used to do socially have been cancelled and not replaced. That goes for the kids too. I think it's currently far less sociable (for obvious reasons) and can't wait for a vaccine so we can go back to healthy social lives.
Yep

this and growing political divides mean it can only have driven the country further apart.

The only communal activity sparked by Coronavirus around here were all those zealots standing on doorsteps cheering for their religion.

Bill

57,487 posts

279 months

Friday 4th December 2020
quotequote all
anonymous said:
[redacted]
That's certainly the NPE PH view, I'm not so convinced it's true of the wider country.

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

78 months

Friday 4th December 2020
quotequote all
Bill said:
anonymous said:
[redacted]
That's certainly the NPE PH view, I'm not so convinced it's true of the wider country.
Indeed and that’s what the poll reflects. Not that the poll is a fact and it’s obviously subjective based on your situation and outlook etc.

My industry (airlines) has been possibly one of the worst (and first) affected by covid but I think I’ll still look back on this as being a great time when I spent more time with my family and got back into loads of things I enjoy and also got to know my neighbours better.

As I said, my view is social cohesion is much improved in my local area and in the country as a whole but others obviously feel completely differently.

It’s not right or wrong though just opinions. Everyone views events differently.

I see some of my younger work colleagues are suffering very badly at the moment even though they’ve got less financial commitments like family or children to support.




dmahon

2,717 posts

88 months

Friday 4th December 2020
quotequote all
For me I think it’s been terrible for social relationships.

The pro and the anti lockdown types are bitterly divided and angry at each other.

Us anti lockdown types feel completely marginalised, like the world has lost the plot around us.

Everyone seems to be hibernating and antisocial at the moment. Maybe it’s just us but nobody wants to meet even now we are coming out of lockdowns. Everyone is comfortable at home in front of Netflix.

I didn’t even experience any togetherness back in March. Everyone was shouting at each other for going outside twice a day even then.

What a mess.

Bill

57,487 posts

279 months

Friday 4th December 2020
quotequote all
El stovey said:
It’s not right or wrong though just opinions. Everyone views events differently.
yes 'Twas ever thus though. The extremes diverge and the rest of us muddle on through.

JuanCarlosFandango

9,557 posts

95 months

Friday 4th December 2020
quotequote all
Staying apart has really brought us together.